Three months after calling for new leadership within the WNBA, Napheesa Collier isn’t backing down. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday at Media Day for Unrivaled, the 3v3 league she co-founded with fellow player Breanna Stewart, the Minnesota Lynx star sent a clear message: “Nothing has changed.”

The fire in the players is still there as they look to have their demands met in the ongoing CBA negotiations.

“I feel confident in the (players association) and where we are internally with our players and the future,” Collier proudly said. “People are seeing that changes need to be made. It’s coming from so many different directions, so many people feel this way. We’re just excited for the future.”

This is the first time Collier has spoken to the media since her fiery September exit interview in which she accused WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert of negligence and called the league’s leadership “the worst in the world.”

It sparked immediate support from players across the league, including Lexie Hull and Angel Reese.

It has been nearly a year into the talks for a new CBA, and the two sides are still far apart… Pay structure and revenue sharing remain the most significant hurdles, as players also push for improvements in areas such as childcare and retirement benefits. Still, so far, the only thing both sides have agreed on is to extend the current agreement until January 9, 2026, marking yet another extension in the ongoing talks.

But despite the new deadline being just a few weeks away, Collier has emphasized that the players’ resolve is intact, even if they risk a lockout, in case they don’t reach a mutual agreement, which will definitely affect the league, including the expansion draft, free agency, and the WNBA draft.

“I don’t think there’s fatigue,” Napheesa Collier said, according to Kendra Andrews of ESPN. “Obviously, there’s frustration in that both sides are trying to get what they want, but we still have that fire within us that we’re willing to do what it takes. We’re going to do whatever it takes to get what we think we deserve.”

The players’ union is pushing for a revenue-sharing model that would see athletes receive close to 30% of league and team revenue, with that share increasing over the term of the agreement. But the league’s latest proposal would allocate players less than half of that figure, leaving the two sides far apart.

But the unity among players has never been stronger than it is now, as they look to use several big names gathering under one roof for the upcoming Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited seasons, to their advantage, something which Paige Bueckers also thinks could help them by creating a live forum for alignment, conversation, and resolution.

“Us being here in December and January until March, it’s a crucial time in the CBA,” Collier said of the players’ unity across the board. “So many things need to happen in that time. Because of that, having us all in one place is beneficial. Things are going to get done.”

Collier confirmed the players are in “lockstep” with what they are going after in these negotiations.

With the clock now ticking toward January, the stakes are no longer theoretical…

What happens next won’t just shape negotiations; it could redefine the league’s immediate future, with real consequences already looming for players and teams alike.

But on a slightly more positive note, Collier also provided some uplifting personal news.

Napheesa Collier shares an encouraging injury update

Napheesa Collier confirmed that the devastating injury, which sidelined her during the WNBA semifinals, was more serious than initially believed. The Lynx star suffered a Grade 2 tear involving her ankle and shin muscles, which ultimately kept her out of the decisive Game 4 against the Phoenix Mercury.

The good news is that surgery was not required. She has been steadily rehabbing and remains optimistic about returning to full strength in the coming weeks.

According to Madeline Kenney of the NY Post, Collier said she is “just taking it one day at a time.”

The Lynx star’s goal is to align with the start of Unrivaled’s second season on January 5, where she’s expected to play a central role both on and off the court. She had won the league’s inaugural 1-on-1 tournament and also led the Lunar Owls to the best overall record (13-1).

Napheesa Collier is coming off one of the best seasons of her WNBA career, averaging a career-high 22.9 points per game while shooting super efficiently from all three levels. Her absence during the playoffs was a stark reminder of how much the Lynx relied on her.

As fans are excited to see her back in action, the priority remains her fitness, so when the next chapter begins, she’s able to lead from the front once again.